Camps for kids with autism are a great opportunity to give your child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) an outdoors experience. The Autism Center for Kids supports Our Kids camps, although various organisations offer camps for children with special needs. Why should you send your child to a camp? They can have recreational and educational experiences with other special needs children in a caring and safe environment. Staff at these camps are specially trained to deal with children with high needs or disabilities.
Another benefit of the camping experience is that children without ASD can enjoy other camps at the same time. Just imagine the conversations and experiences you will hear about when the children return from camp. There are many Our Kids special needs camps in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), but let’s discuss the basics of summer camp for kids with autism.
What Is Summer Camp for Kids With Autism?
You might be apprehensive about keeping the kids busy during the school break. Send them to a summer camp for kids with autism, it will make the children happy and give you a break. They will learn new skills in an informal environment, make new friends, and explore new interests while developing confidence. The camp program is tailored, so each child’s needs are assessed to identify the best program for them, and there is a low staff-camper ratio ensuring each child gets individual attention and support.
What will the children learn and experience at summer camp?
- Martial arts, swimming, rock climbing walls
- Crafts, drama, music, cooking
- Animal therapy
- Speech and language therapy activities
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) activities
- Problem-solving
- Basic and advanced social skills and conversational skills.
Overnight Camp vs Day Camp
There are two types of Ontario camps for children with autism, an overnight camp and a day camp. The overnight camp is suitable for kids aged 8 to 12 years with higher-functioning autism, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and developmental delays. The children immerse themselves in camp life for a week or longer, connecting with kid campers from other cities or parts of the country. It is an opportunity for autistic children to grow and learn independently from the adults they normally see during school terms.
The day camps run either for a half-day or full-day and are for children aged 2 to 10 years old. As the name states, the children return home at the end of the day after spending time on camping activities in an informal environment with their peers. If you are uncomfortable letting your child go away for a week, attending day camp can familiarise them with the exciting and positive experiences they can have on overnight camps.
Benefits of the Camp Experience
Social development is one of the five domains of childhood development and can also be challenging for children without an autism spectrum disorder. Camping offers a lot of experiences and activities, but mostly, kids are in social situations with children they might not know, forcing them to develop their social skills. What other benefits does a camp offer to children with special needs?
- Learning takes place in an informal, fun, and relaxed environment.
- Friendships are fostered with children outside of their normal school and community.
- Confidence increases through doing new activities.
- Social skills develop as they role-play and interact through games.
- Opportunity to participate in activities or sports not offered in their school or community.
- A successful transition between semesters and school years is more likely as kids are involved in their academics, even during school breaks.
Your child’s bright future starts today. It is what we believe at the Autism Center for Kids in Vaughan, Ontario. To us, every child should have the skills they need and the confidence they deserve. Do you live in Ontario? Are you looking for camps for kids with autism? Contact the Autism Center for Kids today.
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